Court discharges Imam after 12 years in custody awaiting trial

The Chief Imam of Inmates at the Jimeta Correctional Centre, Adamawa State, Imam Bala Mohammed, has been discharged after spending 12 years in prison custody awaiting trial.

Bala was discharged by the Adamawa State High Court of Justice presided over by Justice Bulila Ladokiya Ikaro, for lack of prosecution’s witness(s).

Justice Ladokiya discharged the defendant after he had spent 12 years behind bars pending when witnesses will be assembled by the prosecution.

The defendant who was awaiting trial was arraigned before the erstwhile Chief Judge, I. K. Banu, and later arraigned before Justice Ladokiya, where the case was mentioned denovo.

He was accused of killing a man identified as Musa Buba, of Shuware village in Mubi North Local Government Area on 4th March 2011 by shooting him with a Dane gun.

According to the prosecution, the offence contravened section 221 (1) of the penal code law 2018, to which he pleaded not guilty.

According to reports, the Imam through his counsel, Aji Kamale, had earlier approached the court with a bail application where he informed the court that he had since reformed his life for the better.

He added that he had been inconsistent in leading prayers due to health challenges, saying that it was his family who sometimes bring traditional medicine for him at the centre.

Bala said that he has asthma and hypertension and sometimes feels like convulsing, and alleged that there were not enough facilities to diagnose his ill health at the centre.

The Chief Imam, who was full of joy, after his discharge, said he is happy that the court has considered his plight and discharged him.

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